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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
I really really loved this book. It's very touching, poignant, sweet, sad, emotional, well-written... on and on I could go but I won't. One day a few months ago, I read an article about the author, Cheryl Strayed, and how she was 'outed' as a famous advice columnist. And lo and behold, the very next day I found this book at my local thrift store. I picked it up on a whim and am SO GLAD that I did. This will definitely be listed among my many favorite books.
One word of caution-- DON'T read the prologue! I rarely read them, but this time I did, and as I read it I kept reading because she's such a good writer. Then she revealed a bunch of plot! BOO! I wish I wouldn't have read it before reading the novel, because it totally ruined the surprise of the plot for me. It was still a great book but I wish I could've read it without waiting for what I knew was coming.
The characters in this book are the characters that you end up thinking about for months/years to come. I'll be sitting in my desk, and start thinking about someone, wondering, "I wonder if Bruce is okay? What's Josh up to?" And then I'll realize that they're fictional characters. That, to me, is the sign of a really great writer-- the story and characters are so good that it never leaves me.
One word of caution-- DON'T read the prologue! I rarely read them, but this time I did, and as I read it I kept reading because she's such a good writer. Then she revealed a bunch of plot! BOO! I wish I wouldn't have read it before reading the novel, because it totally ruined the surprise of the plot for me. It was still a great book but I wish I could've read it without waiting for what I knew was coming.
The characters in this book are the characters that you end up thinking about for months/years to come. I'll be sitting in my desk, and start thinking about someone, wondering, "I wonder if Bruce is okay? What's Josh up to?" And then I'll realize that they're fictional characters. That, to me, is the sign of a really great writer-- the story and characters are so good that it never leaves me.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Though the writing was often beautiful, that was not enough to make this a good book. I didn’t like any of the characters. I thought it was dull to have all three main characters use sex to cope with their grief. Halfway through this novel, nothing surprised me anymore. Everyone cheats on everyone, everyone fucks everyone, everyone lies to each other constantly, and everyone behaves selfishly. It was all so predictable. I had to force myself to finish it. Crazy because her nonfiction is absolutely breathtaking. I underlined a handful of good quotes about grief, but overall this one was just kinda meh.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
One of the most emotionally draining books I've ever read, but I couldn't put it down.
Took a minute to get into; too many irrelevant details at the beginning. But the story unfolded, meandered, and got you right where you wanted the main characters to end up.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A beautifully raw and honest book about grief and the process of moving forward. In all the ugly, stupid, necessary ways we may find ourselves doing.
The book is at times, painfully real and difficult to read. I had to take a break from it when it became too much at some moments. Ultimately, I am so grateful that a book like this exists. One which helps me process my own grief, while reflecting through other's experiences.
The book is at times, painfully real and difficult to read. I had to take a break from it when it became too much at some moments. Ultimately, I am so grateful that a book like this exists. One which helps me process my own grief, while reflecting through other's experiences.
Well-written and heartfelt, but ultimately, I prefer Stayed's straight-up nonfiction thus far. I could swim miles in her nonfiction, and float along in it in between.
I so wanted to like this book and really looked forward to reading it. Wild kept me so hooked I didn't want to put it down and didn't want it to end. It was probably me but I just couldn't get into it and it took me all summer to read. I usually quit a book if it's that slow moving for me but for some reason felt I should stick it out. The ending sort of fizzled leaving a few things not quite resolved and the ending felt rushed with lapses in time. Next...!
I was in the right place to read this book, a few years after losing a loved one. I would not recommend this for anyone who is sick, or who loves someone who is sick. This book is about loss. It is incisive and brutal. It displays the feelings and coping mechanisms that many of us experience through losses, which is the start to understanding, at least for me. I am grateful for this book. Well portrayed, and oh so human.